OIC SHPA 2014-2023 Implementation Plan
Although the primary responsibility of implementation of the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action 2014-2023 (OIC-SHPA) rests with OIC member countries, relevant OIC institutions and bodies will play a central role in promoting, monitoring and following up the implementation of the OIC-SHPA without compromising the sovereignty and responsibility of nation states.
The following is a proposed mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of OIC-SHPA. Under this mechanism, six Working Groups (WGs) are to be established to facilitate the implementation and follow up of the actions and activities under each thematic area. Each WG will be comprised of interested OIC member countries and relevant OIC institutions. One member country in each group will assume the role of the Coordinator of the group. Each WG will provide technical help, and address specific barriers, seeking synergies wherever possible between different programmes of action. The Coordinator of each WG will be responsible to prepare a progress report and submit it to the Steering Committee.
The OIC Steering Committee for Health will be assuming the central role in the implementation, monitoring and follow up of OIC-SHPA. The Committee will ensure the closer involvement of member countries and relevant OIC and international institutions in the implementation of various programmes of action proposed in the OIC -SHPA. Based on the progress reports of the WGs, the OIC Steering Committee will prepare comprehensive progress reports and submit them to the sessions of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers (ICHM).
As a fast-track implementation approach, twinning capacity building programmes based on matching the needs and capacities of the member countries are proposed to be developed under each thematic area of cooperation. These programmes will facilitate exchanging of knowledge, experience and best practices among the member countries in the concerned areas. In this connection, the IbnSina Health Capacity Building Programme, which has been designed by SESRIC, could be a good example.
The identification and allocation of substantial amount of financial resources will be the other crucial dimension for the implementation of OIC-SHPA. This issue necessitates a detailed discussion to work out some innovative mechanisms for securing necessary funding. To initiate the debate, the following avenues can be proposed to be considered for securing financial resources for the implementation of the OIC-SHPA:
- - OIC Development Funds: Allocation of financial resources from existing OIC development funds like Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and Special Program for the Development of Africa (SPDA), etc.;
- - Member Countries: Calling upon OIC member counties to pledge some financial resources for the implementation of various programs of actions under the OIC-SHPA;
- - Private Sector: Workout modalities to encourage the involvement of private sector to finance some programs of action of the OIC-SHPA;
- - International/Regional Financial, Development and Philanthropic Organizations: Garner funds from various multi‐lateral financial institutions, regional banks and development and philanthropic organizations.
As an alternative innovative modality for securing additional financial resources, healthcare focused Sukuk can be issued in collaboration with some financial institutions for the purpose of funding the implementation of some long-term programs of actions under the OIC-SHPA. This kind of Sukuk could also attract and receive the support of some private corporations, NGOs, private charities and development institutions in the OIC community. All these long term supports may be put into a special purpose vehicle (SPV) which can then be structured to create healthcare Sukuks for the OIC member countries. Such an innovative financial modality has been recently practiced by some financial institutions under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Sukuk scheme.